The Guide

Thursday, March 8, 1962, page 8 (of 20)

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'It's Like Selling Pencils,' Says Drama Coach

By RAYMOND LANG Guide Reporter You can't see it, but there's a beachhead on Augusto Street. Former Marine Lieutenant Mrs. Vyva Friesema, now drama coach at Ponce de Leon Junior High, has conquered it. The beachhead is public apathy toward little theater and Mrs. Friesema's nine-year assault on it has meant money in the till at Ponce, located at 5801 Augusto St. "We make about $1,000 a year on our two plays," she said matter-of-factly, ". . . and our attendance is so great on opening nights we have to put in about 240 portable seats." The auditorium has 735 permanent seats. "And the money we make," Mrs. Friesema went on, is used for anything the school needs." Since the Ponce drama department takes about $1,000 for two palys (tickets are only 50 cents) and their expenses are about $165, they have some $800 left over. While drama departments at many other schools fight to stay alive financially and turn to bake sales to support their plays, Ponce's group has made enough to buy an electric fan for each of the 57 classrooms and even machines for the shop. What's the secret of its success? It's a combination of factors, said Mrs. Friesema. Her success, you need a community interested in supporting its little theatre. "People in the area around here, when our kids go to sell them tickets, they never fail to buy one. "And people are always coming up to me and saying 'Mrs. Friesema, when're you going to put another play on?' " Ponce puts a play on in March and in November. Tonight and tomorrow night (Thursday and Friday) at 8 p.m., Ponce will present a three-act hill billy comedy, "Hedin' fer a Weddin'," in the school auditorium. Many of their plays are not the simple shows often associated with junior highs, but professional-type productions as "The Wixard of Oz" and "Meet Me in St. Louis." Success also requires the right kind of drama students. Ponce's club started with 17 in 1953 and has grown to 66. And there's a waiting line of eager beavers still hoping to get in. "It's amazing the interest they've shown," Mrs. Friesema remarked," and their rather advanced ability."- Her players, she said, are "pretty good on memory work" and, of course, are bothered with a problem common to many young actors and actresses, "keeping quiet back stage." Making a play tick depends, of course, on the drama coach. "Promotion" said Mrs. Friesema had been the major reason for Ponce's success. "It takes planning and organizing," Mrs. Friesema went on. "It's like any business, even selling pencils." IRONING OUT final details for tonight and tomorrow night's presentation are Ponce de Leon Junior High's drama coach, Mrs. Vyva Friesema, standing at left center, and her cast. (Staff photo).

WEST of the City Limits - with Ron Levitt

THINGS TO WATCH FOR: Residents still driving automobiles with 1961 auto tags had better get the new license plates pronto. Authorities estimate thatthere are still 20,-000 cars driving around Dade with the outdated tags and they promised an immediate crack-down . . . Watch for a new legitimate theater to uncurtain in the Miami area. Looks like the bus situation in Dade may be settled on the ballot . . . Miami City Manager Melvin Reese is expected to get new support for his $10 million Bayfront Park project unveiled this past weekend. The project will extend Bayfront Park, include a 22,000 seat Coliseum, and will turn part of Biscayne Boulevard into a "Harbor Drive" with 12 traffic lanes. Suburban Democrat and Civic groups from the Southwest area expected to turn out in record numbers to welcome President Kennedy at the airport when he arrives for the March 10 dinner here. But only a handful will be dining at the $100 per plate affair . . . West Dade Jaycee President Fred Johnson says the group considering making the "Miss Dade County" Pageant, held at Westbrooke Country Club last weekend, an annual affair; 1,200 or so persons saw the three hour contest. The candidates for the District One Metro Commission seat keep piling up. Herb Hoodwin of Key Biscayne and I. Tommy Thomas, Chairman of the Metro Zoning Board, join the contenders this week and within the next three days, you can expect at least two more announcements of candidacy. All together it looks as if there may be about 10 names to choose from but several leaders out in the Southwest area are still looking for a "candidate who will represent the suburbs." MISCELLANEOUS MEMOS: The third educational wing at Kendall Presbyterian Church has been completed . . . localite Bob Parent and his Band will back up comedian Patsy Abbot in a one-night show Sunday at the Coral Way Jewish Center. Southwest Miami High School's Ron Pascarella has bettered the state discus record by 10 feet. The teenage athlete marked at 187 feet 7 inches-nine feet off the national mark. Local workers for the Multiple Sclerosis Chapter will have its door-to-door drive March 11 through 17 . . . The Florida State University's famous High Flying Circus will perform March 9-10-11 at Tropical Park . . . They call it "The Greatest Collegiate Show on Earth" . . . Proceeds will go to Dade's Museum of Science and Natural History. West Dade Civic Association meets March 19 at Westbrooke with a handful of candidates for public office on hand who will have to go through a question and answer session. GREAT IDEA: Local telephone hogs may find a warning in the following: Two California women were fined $300 each and given 10 days in jail for not getting off the telephone party line.

South Miami Chamber To Keep Same Policy, Says New President

South Miami Chamber of Commerce policies will follow on the same course, President Val Stieglitz, who began his fifth term said last week. All incumbents were reelected for one-year terms. Stieglitz was installed Feb. 24 along with Mrs. Helen Miller, Vice President; George B. Hardie Jr., treasurer, at Sunset Park Playdium where druggist Mrs. Mary Dorn was also honored as the "Outstanding South Miamian of the Year." H. W. MacDonald, the ailing secretary-manager, is expected to return to his post in two or three more weeks. He is recuperating at South Miami Hospital from a heart attack. "We feel we have made liberal progress in the community," Stieglitz said in affirming that he will continue to follow the same policies. "The manager and board of directors really run the chamber," said Stieglitz. MacDonald has been "running" the Chamber from his hospital room since the attack. Stieglitz, a mortgage broker, lives at 7255 SW 57th Ct. Mrs. Miller, a florist, lives at 5815 SW 71st St. Hardie, attorney for the City of South Miami, lives at 5800 Sunset Dr. VAL STIEGLITZ H. W. MacDONALD

Here's Cast For Drama At Ponce

Are any of the teen-agers in your neighborhood going to be before the footlights tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night when Ponce de Leon Junior High's drama department presents "Hedin' fer a Weddin', a three-act comedy? Those youths in the cast of the hill billy show are Seymour Rosen, 749 Paradiso Ave.; Judy Goldman, 6501 Granada Blvd.; Larry Simon, 4140 SW 13th Ter.; Polly Knappen, 233 Viscaya Ave. Bonnie Bassi, 1333 Blue Rd.; Carol Sachs, 7611 Old Cutler Rd.; Sherry Burrell, 3990 Hardee Rd.; Ricky Gutierrez, 1437 Mendavia Ave.; Donna Andrews, 3994 SW 11th St.; David Knight, 133 Camio Ave.; Eileen Mortimer, 1302 Genoa St.; Pat Stokely, 102 Calabria Ave.; Carl Freeman, 4 Antilla Ave.; Vicky Hessen, 4750 David Rd.; and Marilyn Kelly, 2990 Jackson Ave.

MAILBOX

EDITOR: I must rise to the defense of the Dade County Trash Collection department. In my area which is on Route 5, we have had excellent service so far as garbage collection is concerned and more than adequate service for trash collection. I am aware more and more, however, that a great many people do not know what is available to them for getting rid of trash ov various kinds. One garbage pail or bushel basket may be used for small twigs and leaves which will be picked up on the second service each week (that is, on the Thursday or Friday pick-up). Many people say that their garbage cans are too full for this use. However, one finds that usually these people put their newspaper and old magazines in the garbage can. We stack ours in the porte-cochere, and every other week, a man who earns his living by selling newsprint, picks them up and takes them away. The Salvation Army (Truck Calls' Telephone number FR 3-6276) not only picks up old paper, magazines, and books, but any wearable clothing, rags, small appliances, furniture, dishes, and any other oddments that you have. Whenever we call them, we let our neighbors know, and usually have quite a mound of "stuff" which otherwise might go on a trash pile or in a garbage pail. Goodwill Industries will come for any repairable furniture, clothing, or anything which can be rebuilt in their shops. They carry on a retraining program and are now teaching upholstering as well as furniture repairing to the people in their workshop. The Miami Rescue Mission particularly is grateful for mattresses, springs, bedding, and men's clothing. The Cancer Society always is in need of old soft sheets which can be made into bandages, and their Cancer Closet can use any sort of sickroom equipment which they sterilize and lend out to patients who are being cared for at home. If these things are donated to the various agencies which can use them, the garbage cans will be less full, and the trash piles will diminish considerably. If one does all of these things, and the trash pile seems to remain too long, one should call the Dade County Waste Division (TU 7-7393) and find out just when the trash is supposed to be picked up, and if it is not done, make a COMPLAINT. We have found them most cooperative. In our own neighborhood, we try not to do any major pruning until just before the trash pick-up is due, though several people have yardmen who seem to come just after the truck has passed by, and so have a constant little pile in front of their house. I think however, that that will gradually be overcome as they begin to use their garbage cans instead. I feel that tremendous strides have been made in the last few years. I can remember the time when we used to have to dig a trench and bury the garbage, and burn the trash, and that was only 20-odd years ago. MRS. HENRY B. ERIKSON 4520 SW 62nd Ave.